The addition of petroleum and natural gas data builds on the API's existing State Energy Data System (SEDS) and electricity data sets, allowing direct third-party computer access to 569,000 EIA data time series. This API data is ideal for software developers working in government, research or the energy sector who are looking to design applications for the web or for mobile and tablet devices.

"Expanding EIA's API to include information on petroleum and natural gas production, consumption and inventory trends brings us one step closer to the vision of making all of EIA's data time series available through their powerful data access tools," said EIA Assistant Administrator for Communications Gina Pearson.

Planned future additions to EIA's API include comprehensive coal data sets and the Annual Energy Outlook data set. The API reflects EIA's commitment to increasing the accessibility of its data through the use of machine-readable and open formats as outlined by the new federal Open Data Policy.

The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA's data, analysis and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government. The views in the product and press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the Department of Energy or other federal agencies.